Compare towns

Glocester vs Dedham vs Smithfield

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Glocester has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
Smithfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

MeasureGlocesterDedhamSmithfield
People
Population
10,221Lowest
25,237Highest
22,233
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
50.8±4.3Highest
31% above U.S.
44.6±1.6
15% above U.S.
41.8±2.6Lowest
7% above U.S.
Kids under 18
19.8%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.6%±1.9
U.S.: 22%
16.9%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Glocester and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22.2%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.9%±2
U.S.: 17.2%
21.1%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Glocester and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
35.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
55%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
40%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.3%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1
U.S.: 6.4%
16.7%±0.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$113,508±$7k
41% above U.S.
$128,955±$10kHighest
60% above U.S.
$102,077±$8kLowest
26% above U.S.
Dedham and Glocester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$396,500±$28kLowest
19% above U.S.
$661,800±$16kHighest
99% above U.S.
$446,400±$12k
34% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,417±$627
about the U.S. average
$2,042±$182Highest
45% above U.S.
$1,016±$241Lowest
28% below U.S.
Dedham and Glocester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,248
68% above U.S.
$7,918Highest
154% above U.S.
$5,207Lowest
67% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
64.5%±24Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
56.4%±10Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
57.1%±17.7
U.S.: 51.1%
Glocester and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
6.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
81.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
1956Lowest
24 yrs older than U.S.
1976Highest
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minHighest
30% above U.S.
29 min
11% above U.S.
25 minLowest
7% below U.S.
Work from home
13.1%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
20%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
14%±3.1
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #12 of 38 in RI #119 of 282 in MA #8 of 38 in RI
School district Foster-Glocester · Glocester — Smithfield
High school in town Ponaganset High School — Smithfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8Highest
—
11.8Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.